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It used to be considered a travel bag, but over the past couple of years, Longchamp’s iconic Le Pliage nylon tote has become an everyday standard—celeb fans include Pippa Middleton, Katie Holmes and Rachel McAdams. Studio Biba at Yonge and Eglinton offers a deal on the sturdy, chic shoulder bag, selling it in a range of colours and sizes for as low as $99. Check out our 14-item fashion guide to living the good life for less »
There are few manners of dress among men in Toronto, because so few are popular enough for independent retailers to endorse. We learned from Christopher Parker’s final “Dapper Gent” column in The Grid that Toronto shop owners want to see more colour and investment pieces (and therefore, put a nail in the coffin of fast fashion) and less “heritage” dressing, fun socks and raw denim. In other words, the same thing people in fashion say every year. So instead, we decided to look at it from the perspective of what the men on Toronto’s streets really want. There’s no better way to do that than to observe the world around us, and we’ve deduced that while city gents certainly play it safe, they seem perfectly happy filling a few classic archetypes. An informal list of those archetypes (there are six of them, by the by), what they like, what they don’t like and where they shop, after the jump.
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December 26 (or, in some parts, Boxing Day) is one of the worst days to leave the house, especially if the reason for leaving the house is shopping. People become vicious, elbowing single mothers for toasters or an eighth television (because who doesn’t need an eighth television?). But we’ve made some calls and have taken stock of some of the worthwhile deals in the city for men, women and children (and, of course, shops that cater to him and her, the whole family and homeowners) that will take us away from Best Buy, Future Shop or Walmart. Check out 25 safe bets for Boxing Day sales this year after the jump.
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By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza
The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and we’ve tackled the ever-difficult task of narrowing down a list of items that would be perfect for the men, women and children in your life. We find it is always a big to-do finding that special something for the wine snob who likes to aerate his or her wine, but we’ve got it covered, and to spare moms, dads, uncles, aunts and friends from waiting in line for this year’s Tickle Me Elmo, we’ve found some cool options for rug rats that won’t break down and send a greedy child into a tantrum. Check out the 90 presents that make up our 2011 ultimate holiday gift guide in a gallery after the jump »
By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza
The modern man is more complicated than the slipper-wearing, pipe-smoking, paper-reading image of yesteryear. This year’s gift guide reflects a different breed: instead of slippers, consider a pair of ultra-comfy cashmere socks from Harry Rosen, and while pipes are passé, a Siglo humidor will keep his cigars in pristine condition. But if you feel like embracing the stereotype for a moment, fear not—we still have a bottle-opening wrench for cracking a few brews before the big game. Check out 17 great holiday gifts for the modern man in a gallery after the jump »
By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza
Sometimes it is hard to stick to a limit, because sometimes the gifts over $100 really are the perfect presents. We’ve found a touchably soft mink fur bear (don’t knock it till you’ve touched it) that will win the heart of any child or, really, human being, as well as a humidor for the lady or gentleman who subscribes to Cigar Aficionado, a pelt rug, an intoxicating men’s fragrance from Eau d’Italie and everything in between. Check out 27 higher-end gifts between $100 and $499 in a gallery after the jump »
There was an abundance of fur on the fall/winter runways, but Philip Sparks has proven that it doesn’t always need to be a big honking animal to be showy. We love that Sparks has opted out of using traditional pelts like arctic wolf, fox and bunny for a more renewable fur source: the mountain sheep. This jacket’s oversized, curly collar reminds us of a lion, and the relaxed military inspiration is perfect for evenings when you may not want to be too formal. Can’t grow a beard or a moustache for Movember? Don’t worry, this collar will keep your baby face warm. It’s also comfortable enough to rest your head on, should the stranger’s shoulder on your train ride home for the holidays not be an option. $795.
I Miss You, 63 Ossington Ave., 416-916-7021, imissyou.ca
Pretty soon the Philip Sparks man will have a smart attaché (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
Danier continues its expansion into the fashion world beyond the Eaton Centre, announcing another round of designer collaborations, this time with stylist George Antonopoulos (who has already partnered with the company on a line called Object for Danier) and designer Philip Sparks. Danier is no stranger to these diffusion lines, having previously paired with Greta Constantine and Mark Fast. Antonopoulos will expand his line launched last fall with accessories like wallets, clutches, bags and clothing, while Sparks will offer men’s accessories (sadly, there’s no butch way to say it) like iPad cases, backpacks and duffle bags. Look for items in select Danier stores in spring.
Oliver Spencer womenswear (Image: Oliver Spencer)
Attention women who feel left out from the dandy man’s business plan: Oliver Spencer is bringing his womenswear to the streets of Toronto, and it has been announced that the flagship store on Queen Street West will offer the brand’s fall/winter 2011 collection. This will be the second major heritage-style menswear brand to dress the ladies of our city—the first being Philip Sparks, who has already taken a couple of successful stabs at making dresses in addition to his typical suiting. The womenswear collection includes eight pieces—dresses, coats, jackets and skirts—with feminine details that complement the men’s collection (think knits, sharp tailoring and button-down shirts). We’re a fan of both Sparks’s menswear and his women’s designs, as well as Oliver Spencer’s sharp tailoring, but does this mark the beginning of a womenswear competition between two of our favourite dandy boys? See the full collection after the jump.
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Carrie Hayes, Jason Matlo and L’Autre Couture (Images: Cashmere)
When we think of a toilet paper fashion show (though event organizers are careful to refer to it as “bathroom tissue”), our minds immediately jump to memories of bachelorette parties with brides-to-be begging brutes to buy the toilet paper veils they’ve crafted. We can’t erase that image from our minds, but the eighth annual Cashmere toilet paper fashion show went a long way to prove that toilet paper isn’t just for the washroom or soon-to-be divorcées—it can be a dress, a necklace, a bag or a hat. Fashion editors and curious onlookers gathered at the AGO’s Baillie Court to scope out 100 per cent Cashmere toilet paper dresses and suits made by Canadian designers in support of breast cancer awareness. Unfortunately, these pieces aren’t treated with any sort of weatherproofing, so it would be impossible to wear any of them in the rain, but Cashmere will donate 25 cents to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for every pink product purchased in stores—that’s in addition to the dollar it’ll donate for every vote on its website. Check out the toilet paper designs from Jason Matlo, Philip Sparks, Brose, Franco Mirabelli, Rita Tesolin, Carrie Hayes and more after the jump.
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Vintage fur and hats (Image: Inside Out)
In a shocking twist, pop-up shop season has already kicked off, long before the holidays: first Philip Sparks launched his first trunk shop in the Junction earlier this week, and now Torontonians craving some unique vintage can head over to Inside Out, a pop-up from Montreal that opens on October 4 at 1040 Queen St. W. (formerly A2Zane, which we’re told has packed up and moved east) next week. Members of PETA should steer clear, since Inside Out specializes in vintage furs, but what we’re most drawn to is the assortment of vintage coats and women’s hats that may—we’re hoping—give our fall wardrobe a certain je ne sais quoi. In addition to selling one-off vintage finds from La Belle Province, the store will act as an informal gallery space to exhibit work by young Toronto artists. But like most pop-up shops, Inside Out is a limited-time offer: all pieces were hand-picked in Montreal and are one-of-a-kind, which means once they’re gone, vintage seekers are out of luck.
Skate on, little lady. (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
Just in time for fall weather to take hold, Toronto designer and Rogue Fashion Week regular Philip Sparks will launch his first trunk shop at Smash in the Junction on September 21. The space will be open for five days and will feature an edited selection of fall menswear, womenswear and accessories from his 2011 fall/winter collection. We were ecstatic over Sparks’ second womenswear effort earlier this year, and considering the temperature seems to be dropping, we’d love one of Sparks’s signature fall coats to keep us warm. The pop-up shop trunk show will travel around the city throughout the fall, giving us more than one chance to snag a Sparks original: “We’ll be collaborating with retailers and other creative partners who are inspired by the same vintage feeling as our brand,” Sparks said in a press release earlier today. The first location, Smash, is located at 2880 Dundas St. W. and will be open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Dandies looking for new suits and gals in need of a skating dress will have to bring cash or a credit card, because this travelling circus of dapper duds is debit-free.
Liz Cabral’s puffy sleeves (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
Nothing unites the rich—and even richer still—better than self-adulation at Holt Renfrew, so it was no shock to see Toronto’s swishiest milling about the second-floor shoe department for Holts’ “You Got Coveteur’d” event, celebrating the website from Erin Kleinberg, Stephanie Mark and Jake Rosenberg, which looks into the closets of fashion’s hottest plates. Some of the ladies present had already been profiled, including Flare’s Liz Cabral, who wore enormous lime-green sleeves befitting an ’80s prom dress, and Suzanne Rogers, who was subdued in a taupe, lacy number. Check out the scene at Holt Renfrew in a gallery after the jump.
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Toronto’s hardest working fashion student (Image: Dario Ruberto)
We saw John Hillifer showcase his wares at Mass Exodus in a show curated by Flare magazine’s Liz Cabral, and his unfinished edges and floppy shapes put his collection among the best of the bunch. But this isn’t the first time Hillifer has been in the fashion spotlight, since he worked with the women’s wear team at Danier to develop his winning jacket design from the Danier Design Challenge, assisted Danier’s lead menswear designer and interned with local dandy Philip Sparks. Hillifer hails from Vancouver Island, but his home at the moment is Toronto, and he’ll be graduating from Ryerson’s School of Fashion this year. We’re impressed that someone so green has shown so much initiative to gain bona fide work experience, and frankly, we wish other young people would follow suit. Success through hard work? What a concept.
Hot List, our compendium of Toronto stylemakers to watch, appears regularly on The Goods. See the full collection as we check in with more of Toronto’s hottest.
Jano Badovinac is more than just a model (Image: Jaclyn Locke)
We mentioned we were starting a Hot List at The Goods, and today’s entry is the rugged and sometimes-bearded, sometimes-mustachioed industrial designer–cum-model Jano Badovinac. Badovinac is everywhere because he has his hands in everything, from “upcycling” old phone books (he has started a gun-in-a-Bible trick project for glue guns titled “Encygluepedia”), to part-time modelling and being the creative director and managing partner at Fugitive Glue. Find out more about this week’s need-to-know gentleman and a gallery of his work after the jump.
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